22 - 28 February 2001
Issue No.522
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 22 - 28 February 2001 Issue No.522 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Disorderly conduct
The members of the world community were virtually unanimous in denouncing last week's air strikes against Iraq. The totally unjustified attack, in which two Iraqi civilians were killed and more than 20 injured, came shortly before UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraq's foreign minister were scheduled to meet to discuss ways of breaking the deadlock over arms inspection and the possible lifting of the sanctions. It is now unlikely that the meeting will prove successful. The Iraqi leadership has already escalated its rhetoric against neighbouring countries which US and British planes use as bases from which to launch their attacks.Striking targets near Baghdad, outside the no-fly zones (which are imposed by the US and Britain alone, without any backing from UN Security Council resolutions) does not qualify as a "routine" operation. It is clearly a warning to all the countries working toward the lifting of sanctions that President Bush will disregard international opinion, and firmly intends to implement his own plans of overthrowing the Iraqi regime.
Many Arab governments hoped that the Bush administration would adopt a more balanced approach toward the region, at least attempting to reduce tension rather than creating greater instability. Last week's attack shattered such optimism, and renewed fears that Washington will continue to act unilaterally without any consideration for the interests of its allies in the region.
Some Western reports have suggested that US Secretary of State Colin Powell will be offering a deal to Arab leaders during his upcoming regional tour: they must support the US's efforts to topple the Iraqi regime if they wish to play an active role in settling the Arab-Israeli conflict. If that is indeed the case, Powell's tour will most likely result in failure. Arab governments are hardly prepared to have America intervene in regional affairs to the extent of appointing and overthrowing rulers as it sees fit.
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